Deadly Blaze in New Delhi Residential Building
At least nine people were killed, and more than a dozen were rescued after a massive fire broke out in a residential building in New Delhi early Sunday morning.
Footage shows a fire brigade team outside the residential building, with members and police personnel unwinding hoses. Later, ambulances are seen arriving and departing with the deceased. A charred condenser fan and damaged window panels are also visible at the site.
Eyewitness Accounts and Tragic Discoveries
“I received a call around 7:00 am informing me that an incident had occurred here and that a fire had broken out. I immediately arrived at 7:05 am and saw that the DCP, Delhi Police, and the fire brigade were already present. The fire had been extinguished, but five charred bodies were found at the back of the second floor,” said Pankaj Shethra, a colony representative.
“They were in such a condition that you couldn’t even tell whether they were male or female. One body was found on this side, and three bodies were upstairs. Those on the third floor initially survived. They tried to escape and save themselves, but the top floor was locked. Had the lock been open, they might have survived,” he continued.
According to Shethra, some victims were so severely burned that one large body had shrunk significantly in size, while another was found lying on a bed, suggesting they may have been asleep when the fire broke out.
Resident Jayanth Gupta recalled how panic broke out as locals evacuated from neighbouring buildings, and called for stricter measures to be imposed by authorities.
“We all came running. There was a massive fire on the roof. Everyone started using the ladders to come down. […] We feel that since the buildings are built so close together, the management should be better. Builders need to be more responsible and adhere to the laws,” he said.
Rescue Efforts and Investigation Underway
According to officials, the blaze rapidly spread to at least six flats, leaving residents trapped on high floors.
Officials also stated that the firefighting and rescue operation continued for over five hours due to the complexity of the building’s layout, with over 80 personnel and 14 fire trucks deployed.
Possible Cause of the Fire
Reports indicated that an air conditioner blast may have triggered the fire, though officials have not yet confirmed the cause.
Article by Viory
